15 September, 2010
Congressman Jim McGovern formally announced today his bid for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives in Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District at www.JimMcGovern.com/announce.
“Today, I’m proud to officially announce my candidacy for Congress because I’m anxious to keep fighting: to grow jobs, to help small businesses, to increase renewable energy, and to expand biotechnology.”
“I’m impatient. I’m impatient to get things done -- to cut through bureaucratic red tape to get people back to work and to see our economy flourish. I’ve heard a lot of rhetoric about what some people are ‘against.’ Instead, my focus is on progress, growth, development, and the future.”
In a web-only video released today announcing his candidacy, McGovern stated his strong desire to see private sector expansion in the United States, rather than overseas.
McGovern said that his agenda for the upcoming term would be aggressively focused on bringing economic security and growth to the 3rd Congressional District. “We need to invest in infrastructure, and we need to invest in education. And to the extent we skimp on education, we’re going to lose our competitive edge.”
McGovern’s announcement video also features interviews with Hopkinton businessman Dan Brown and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives head Kevin O’Sullivan, who discuss McGovern’s work to develop new jobs.
“With Jim McGovern’s help, what we’ve been able to demonstrate so far is job growth,” said Brown.
“I’m very proud of our team in Massachusetts, and I’m also proud that we were able to bring these jobs back from overseas because this helps us in the economy.”
McGovern said he would build on his legacy of working with private companies, developers, and investors throughout the 3rd Congressional District to stimulate growth.
McGovern also pledged to continue to be a leader in the fight to bring our troops home safely from Afghanistan. “I’m tired of nation-building over there; it’s time we do some nation building here in the 3rd Congressional District.”
Jim McGovern has represented the 3rd Congressional District since 1997, and currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate and amendments on most legislation, and a member of the House Budget Committee. McGovern is also co-chair of both the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the House Hunger Caucus.
McGovern has authored important legislation to increase Pell Grant funding to allow more students access to higher education; to provide funds to preserve open space in urban and suburban communities; and to give tax credits to employers who pay the salaries of their employees who are called up to active duty in the Guard and Reserves.
A strong proponent of healthcare reform, his legislative efforts included reducing the cost of home health care, giving patients the dignity to be cared for in their own homes with the help of medical professionals.
McGovern voted against the initial authorization of force in Iraq in 2002, and has been among the most prominent Congressional voices on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier this year, McGovern introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill calling for a flexible timetable for withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan as a matter of fiscal responsibility and national security.
Jim McGovern was born on November 20, 1959, in Worcester, the son of two successful small business owners. His two sisters are elementary school teachers in Worcester's public school system.
McGovern earned his Bachelor of Arts ('81) and Masters of Public Administration ('84) degrees from The American University, working his way through college by serving as an aide in the office of U.S. Senator George McGovern (D-SD). He went on to manage Senator McGovern's 1984 Presidential campaign in Massachusetts, and delivered his nomination speech during the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.
Jim is married to Lisa Murray McGovern. The McGoverns have a son, Patrick and a daughter, Molly.
(This story was originally posted on September 8, 2010)
